Sterilizer



E. J. BARROWS.

STERILIZER.

APPUCATION FILED JUNE 8,1921.

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

Patented Dec. 5, 1922.

E. J. BARROWS.

STERILIZER.

APPLICATION man JUNE 8.1921.

1,437,882, Patented Dec. 5, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A TTORNEY E, J. BARROWS.

STERILIZER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8,1921.

1,48?,882, Patented Dec. 5, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Patented Dec. 5, 1922.

UNETED STATES EVANDER J. BARROWS, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA.

STERILIZER.

Application filed June 8, 1921. Serial No. 475,956.

To IN [whom if only concern:

Be it known that. l. Evaxonn J. Bannows, a citizen of the l nited States of America, and resident of Fort 'ayne, in the county of Allen and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sterilizers, of which the following is a specification. 4

This invention relates to improvements in sterilizers for canned goods and the object thereof is to provide a machine by means of which the operation of sterilization of canned goods in large quantity may continuously be performed. And another object is to include in the sterilizer an automatically operating mechanism by means of which cans are introduced into, progressed through, and dischargedfrom the apparatus.

These objects are accomplished by' the construction illustratedin the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a sterilizer embodying the present invention, parts thereof being shown broken away;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, there being also parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the apparatus; and s Fig. 1 is a transverse section of Fig. 1 on the line w-a: thereof.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views and having reference now to the same 1 is a stationary closed cylinder supported in horizontal position upon brackets 2 in the usual manner. In the upper part of the cylinder is arranged spray pipes 3 that have connection with a supply pipe 4, and within the bottom of the cylinder are arranged a series of steam pipes 5 for heating the contents of the cylinder. Also, a drain pipe 6 has connection with the bottom of the cylinder.

Arranged longitudinally in the cylinder is a central shaft 7 having fixed thereon a series of wheels 8, one of which is toothed and has engagement with a gear 9 that is actuated by a shaft 10 so as to be rotated. Movement is imparted to the shaft 10 from a drive-shaft 11 through the medium of a worm 12 and gear 13. Each wheel 8 has a series of spokes 14 arranged in parallel pairs. and extending horizontally and between the pairs of spokes of the several wheels are groups of flanged rails 15 that are spaced apart and rigidly fixed in position between the spokes. The flanges 15 and 15 of each rail 15 are formed with a series of corrugations 16 in their opposite inner faces, the corrugations in one face extending in transverse planes alternating with those in which the corrugations in the opposite face extend.

t each end of each group of rails 15 are arranged a corresponding series of projecting fingers 17, those at the receiving end of the machine forming extensions of the flanges 15 and those at the discharge end of the machine forming extensions of the flanges 15''. The fingers 17 are spaced apart and are adapted to pass between corresponding fingers 18 that project from the housings 1t) and 20 respectively that are fixed in the heads of the cylinder.

In the housing 19 is a grooved valve 21 adapted to receive a series of cans 22 in successive groups, as it rotates, from a feedchute .23 that communicates with the housing 19 and discharge the cans onto the fingers 18. The valve 21 is mounted upon a shaft 2t and tits snugly within the housing was to prevent escape of steam from the cylinder through the valve housing. Rotary movement is imparted to the shaft 2 by means of a chain 25 actuated by the drive shaft 11, its movement being continuous. Also, a grooved valve 26 is mounted in' the housing 20 and is adapted to receive the cans 27 in groups from the fingers 18 as it is rotated and discharge them onto the chute 28 that extends from the housing. A counter-shaft 29 extends through the housing 20 and the valve 26 is fixed thereon so as to be rotated thereby. Motion is imparted to the shaft 29 by a chain 30 that is actuated by the shaft 24.

In th operation of the invention, the cage, comprised of the wheels 8 and the flanged rails 15 mounted in connection therewith, is revolved continuously by the motion transmitting mechanism provided therefor in connection with the driveshaft 11, and the valves 21 and 26 are also continuously revolved. The sterilizing fluid is introduced into the cylinder through the spray pipes 3 in the customary manner as also is steam introduced into the heating pipes 5.

Cylindrical cans 20 containing the food v of the rails.

or other goods to be sterilized, are intro-v duced Ill grooves of the valve 21 and become dis charged, as the valve rotates, onto the fin-\the small occupied floor space that is redun-ed in the operation of the apparatus-as gers 18 that extend within the cylinder. As the cage revolves in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4 the fingers 17 that project from the forward end of the flanges 15 pass upwardly between the fingers 18 and lift the cans therefrom, the fingers 17 being so shaped that the cans roll onto the corrugated flanges of the corresponding rails upon which they rest momentarily as they are carried upwardly by the rotation of the cage. Upon reaching the opposite side of the cylinder the cans gravitate onto the corresponding flanges 15" and progress toward the opposite end of the cylinder by rolling to the next succeeding corrugations.

As the cage continues to revolve the cans become redeposited upon the flanges 15 and are further progressed by again rolling to the next succeeding corrugations thereon. These operations are repeated as .the cage continues to revolve and the cans are eventually progressed in like manner to the opposite end of the cage and onto the projecting fingers 17 from which they are gathered and directed into the valve 26 by the fingersl8 after having been subjected to the influence of the sterilizing agent during their passage through the cylinder. The cans are discharged from the valve 26 as it revolves into the chute 28 for final disposition. By this construction the cans are fed into the apparatus automatically, and are also automatically deposited into the cage in the order of their admission through the valve. The cans are circulated within the cylinder by the movement of the cage, and their progression from one end of the cage to the opposite end thereof is automatically accomplished owing to the alternately arranged corrugations of the opposite flanges Likewise, the final removal of the cans from the cage is automatically accomplished by the discharge apparatus.

By this manner of operation the cans may be supplied continuously without interruption so that economy of time is effected. Also, because of the frequent rolling movements of the cans as they progress upon the corrugations of the rails, an even distribu tion of the heat of the sterilizing agent is applied to the cans, and the contents of the cans are maintained in a constant state of agitation during the sterilizing process. As

the operation is continuous instead of periodic, and the movement of the cans through the apparatus is effected entirely by mechanical means requiring no manual handling, the heat and sterilizing fluid are conserved as well as manual labor, it not being necessary to periodically remove the sterilizing agent from the cylinder when charging groups into the chute 23, and owor discharging the apparatus with the goods ingto the slant of thechute, roll into the tirbe sterilized therein.

Another advantage of the apparatus 15 compared with the usual type where the goods are introduced into the cylinder'in removable cages.

\Vhat I claim is 1. In apparatus of the class described. a closed cylinder horizontally disposed: a re- \-*ol\-'ing cage within the cylinder including actuating means therefor and having muncrous longitudinal flanged rails arranged in groups; a series of fingers projecting from each group of rails at each end being in line with their flanges opposite those at the other end thereof; a valvular feeding device having fingers in co-operative relation with the fingers at the adjacent end of the cage adapted to convey cans automatically into the groups of. rails as the cage is revolved; and a valvular discharging device having fingers in co-operative relation with the fingers at the adjacent end of the cage adapted to convey cans from the groups of rails as the cage is revolved.

2. In a sterilizer having a stationary horizontal cylinder and revolving member arranged therein; a series of flanged rails longitudinally disposed in groups in fixed relation with the revolving member, the flanges of each rail having corrugations in their opposite inner faces, the corrugations in one face extending in transverse planes alternating with those in which the corrugations in the opposite face extend; and automatic means for delivering cans to the groups of rails at one end of the revolving member and for removing them from the opposit end thereof.

3. In a sterilizer of the class described having a stationary horizontal cylinder; a member arranged within the cylinder adapted to rotate upon a horizontal axis and having groups of longitudinally disposed rails, each rail having corrugated flanges so dis posed as to progress cylindrical cans in successive stages from one end to the other as the member is revolved; and automatic means for supplying cans to the rails of the revolving member at one end thereof and for removing the cans from the opposite end.

4. In sterilizing apparatus having a closed cylinder and revolving member therein, a housing at each end of the cylinder having external and internal openings: a grooved rotatable valve in each housing adapted to receive and convey cans from one of the openings in the housing to the other: and fingers projecting from the revolving member at each end thereof and from each of said housings adapted to transfer the cans from one of said housings into the rotary member at one end thereof, and from the opposite end of the rotary member to the other of said housings.

5. In sterilizing apparatus having a closed cylinder and revolving cage therein; a receiving apparatus at one end of the cylinder having fingers extending thereinto; a discharge apparatus at the other end of the cylinder having fingers projecting thereinto means in connection wlth the cylinder coacting with the fingers projecting from the receiving apparatus adapted to convey cans from the receiving apparatus into the cage; and means at the opposite end of the cage 00- acting with the fingers projecting from the discharging apparatus adapted to convey cans from the cage to the discharging apparatus.

6. In sterilizing apparatus having a horizontal cylinder, a cage Within the cylinder adapted to rotate upon a horizontal axis; and corrugated members horizontally disposed, forming part of the cage and being movable therewith, said members being adapted for the reception of cylindrical cans and being so formed as to cause the cans to automatically progress in successive stages from one end of the stage to the opposite end thereof as the cage is rotated.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

EVANDER J. BARROWS.

Witnesses:

MATILDA METTLER, WALTER G. Bonus.- 

